Michael Swickard's new novel about New Mexico

Commentary by Jim Spence - Over the years political observers holding differing viewpoints on various issues have debated about the nature of the bases of the two dominant parties in the U.S. The Republicans have moved radically to the right, claim the ardent big government progressives. Democrats have moved way to the left, say most of the GOP faithful. Which view is correct?

John F. Kennedy

Right and left, liberal and conservative, none of it means much without some context. Let's summarize the current differences between Republicans and Democrats on tax policy. Democrats prefer higher tax rates, particularly on those who have achieved higher incomes. It is their vision that government can use revenues confiscated from high earners to create a greater overall good. Republicans are more suspicious about how much good any government can create. They believe much more in self-reliance and the freedom to keep more of what a person earns. Often Republicans cite the structure of incentives as being absolutely critical to better aggregate outcomes for the nation.

Often we hear Democrats like Joe Biden point the finger at Republicans while instructing the voters on how much his opponents have changed over the years. “This is not the Republican Party of your parents and grandparents,” is a claim Biden repeats over and over. He suggests Republicans are very different now.

Which party has changed over the last fifty years on tax policy? The answer is indisputable. The Democrats have changed more, a lot more. All one needs to do is listen to a speech given by John F. Kennedy back in 1962. He was explaining the best possible way to use tax policy to create more economic growth and lower unemployment. The clip is only eight minutes long. Pay particularly close attention to the final four minutes when JFK talks about tax policies. He made this speech before the Economic Club of New York on December 14, 1962. After you hear this you will realize that Democrats have abandoned all the principles on tax policies laid out by JFK fifty years ago.